TSgt John Chapman (24th Special Tactics Squadron) 04MAR2002 Battle of Takur Ghar

04MAR2002: Planning to insert on a mountaintop in support of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, TSgt John Chapman's aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Buckling from the explosion, PO1 Neil Roberts was thrown from the aircraft, landing near al-Qaeda positions while the Chinook was forced to land four miles away.

Coordinating their pick up and reinsertion to the top of Takur Ghar, TSgt Chapman volunteered for the mission to rescue their stranded comrade. As soon as they landed on the mountaintop, the entire seven man team came under heavy enemy fire. Without regard for his own safety, T/Sgt Chapman charged forward, with Senior Chief Britt Slabinski close behind, and cleared the nearest bunker killing two enemy fighters in the process. Now with a little breathing room for their SEAL team, Slabinski and Chapman began their assault towards the second bunker. At this point, TSgt Chapman was shot twice and presumed dead by his teammates. As enemy fire intensified, Slabinski made the call to begin movement back down the hillside to a more tenable position.

Approximately 30 minutes after his team moved down the mountaintop, Chapman regained consciousness and began his one man stand against at least twenty al-Qaeda fighters. For nearly an hour, Chapman engaged the enemy positions, fending off multiple charges and engaging in hand to hand combat. With his SEAL team still sustaining casualties and heavy enemy fire, Chapman stayed out front providing cover as best he could.

Suffering from multiple wounds, Chapman's final act was to stand and suppress the enemy positions as reinforcements were nearly shot down and landed mere meters behind his position. TSgt Chapman's sacrifice and continued determination allowed for the survival of his SEAL team as well as countless Rangers that landed with the QRF. Without him bearing the brunt of the enemy attack, American casualties likely would have been substantially worse that day.

For his actions Technical Sergeant John Chapman would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first in the war in Afghanistan.